My eyes slowly opened, a small hand nudging me. I looked over to find Noc staring at me. I peered down, realizing the blankets had fallen off me, so I quickly pulled them up. My face was red.

"Why are you naked?"

I stared off into the distance for a few seconds, not knowing what to do. I shook Svi, mumbling coming from her. Her eyes peeled open, then she looked at me.

"What's wrong?"

"Noc just asked why I'm naked. How do I respond?" I whispered, as Noc was right beside me.

"I don't know, but you need to hurry."

I turned back to Noc, looking at me and over to Svi. His expression was blank.

"Do you have an answer?"

Noc's straightforwardness gave me a bit of anxiety. I really didn't know what to do... I never had to deal with this.

"We were having sex," I replied, embarrassed. Svi looked panicked after my reply, while Noc looked confused.

"Nocri! Why would you say that?!"

I turned over to Svi.

"I didn't know how to respond... He would find out one of these days," I whispered, unsure of how to handle either of them. I turned back over to Noc, looking at me with dazed eyes.

"What's sex? I think I roughly knew, but I forgot."

I didn't sign up for all of his questioning... I didn't know how to handle this. I figured it was too late, so I kept giving straightforward answers.

"It's how children are made..."

I felt Svi scratching me when I answered. It cut into my skin a little. How else was I supposed to reply? Noc looked a little upset. Svi and I were in a panic. I backed up into her, feeling her breasts on my back. It didn't make me feel any calmer.

"Do you want more children?"

"No," I muttered, not wanting to look Noc in the eyes. Svi was upset with my response, as she clearly wants a child with me. I can't handle two kids right now... I do want my genes spread eventually, but definitely not now.

"Why would you have sex then?"

I couldn't answer any more of Noc's questions. I clearly wasn't doing it right. I looked over to Svi and back to Noc.

"Can you answer this, Svi?" I asked, my voice low.

"It feels good," Svi mustered, quiet. Clearly, because she didn't have a good answer either.

"Svi! What answer was that?!"

"I don't know how else to respond..."

Noc stared at us, striking fear in both of us. If I had a heart, it would've been rapidly beating. I couldn't believe it. A demon and an assassin frightened by a frail thirteen-year-old...

"How would this feel good?"

I decided to take over for his questioning, as Svi clearly couldn't.

"You'll find out when you're older... Wait until you're at least eighteen..."

Svi looked okay with my answer for the first time. Sadly, the questioning didn't stop there.

"Why eighteen? How old were you?"

"Your parents haven't made the best decisions in life... I was fifteen," I shamefully admitted.

"Why fifteen?"

"As I said, I haven't made the best decisions..."

Noc still stared at us. He was really freaking me out. I felt so ashamed.

"Why didn't you make good decisions?"

"It's better if you don't know. Can we start getting ready for the day, now?"

Noc nodded in acceptance. I sighed, as the conversation was draining me. Svi looked like a weight was lifted from her chest.

"Can you go and take a shower, Noc?" I questioned, mentally exhausted.

"Okay."

"Wrap a towel around yourself after. Svi will wash the clothes."

"Mmhmm."

Noc left to the bathroom, so Svi and I stared at each other. We were both stunned.

"What just happened?"

"I think we just told Noc about sex," I explained, completely paralyzed.

"Why'd we do that?"

"I haven't a clue."

We stared at each other's worried faces, gaining more anxiety from each other.

"We should get up. We need to put on clothes before he comes back out," I suggested as I didn't want Noc seeing us getting dressed.

"Yeah..."

Thoughts racing in our heads, we stood up. I gathered my clothes, putting them on one by one. Svi did the same.

"I left the comb in the bathroom. I'll fix your hair when Noc comes out."

"Okay. Have you seen the chain that goes around my waist? I can only find the hair one."

"Yeah. It's under the bed," I enlightened, stretching my back out.

"Thanks."

Svi reached below the bed, pulling out her chain and wrapping it around her waist. She handed me the chain to her hair.

"Hold onto this until you comb my hair."

"Sure."

Svi walked over to the bed, pulling me on with her. We looked into each other's eyes. Her arms were latched around my chest. While kissing, Noc walked out from the bathroom, a towel around his waist. He walked over to us, staring again.

"My clothes are in the sink."

Svi and I separated, sitting up to look at Noc.

"Svi, go take care of that."

"Yep."

Svi removed herself from the bed, leaving to the bathroom to clean his clothes. Noc was looking me in the eyes.

"Do you want something, Noc?"

"Why are you and Mom so close?"

"What do you mean? We love each other," I told, puzzled by his question.

"I'm not used to it. I don't remember my biological mother."

A bit of despair was in Noc's eyes. It made my stomach sink.

"If your past hurts, I wouldn't think of it too much. Try to become numb to it."

Sorrow was filling Noc's face. I felt bad since my statement made it worse.

"It's the only place I can draw information from, though. I can't move on without knowledge of the past. If I do, I might make similar mistakes."

I was astonished to hear that from a child. It made a lot of sense. I never thought about that, and I just tried to forget. It might be why I keep screwing up.

"You could be right, Noc. I'm not the brightest."

"You have a point. I should use my past, but not dwell too much on it."

"You're intelligent for a kid," I commented, impressed.

"Am I? I've had a lot of time to my thoughts. I wasn't allowed to talk often."

"You can say whatever you want now."

Tears fell from his eyes, soft weeping coming from Noc. I wiped his tears off with my hand. He turned his head up to me, tears still rolling.

"Dad, why are you a demon?"

It was nice to hear Noc call me Dad. I wanted to be truthful to him, so I decided to tell him the reason. He seemed to comprehend things easily.

"I died. A dragon crushed my bones and organs. I didn't make good choices in life, so I was sent to the underworld. I continued to make bad choices while I was there, and the god decided to make me a demon and send me back to this world."

Noc looked like he understood.

"Mom's still human, then."

"Yes. She wants to turn, too."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Noc looked worried.

"Are you going to kill her?"

I hadn't thought about that before. If her heart stopped, Svi wouldn't be living anymore... Did I kill Flarem?

"I-I don't know..."

I instantly felt guilty. Noc appeared sad. I wasn't sure if it was for Svi or me.

"Don't feel guilty. If she dies, she receives new life. You're alive."

"Am I alive? Is this life? I don't fully feel alive... I shouldn't be asking you."

More guilt spread over me. Some for killing Flarem, some for the idea of killing Svi in the future, and some for asking Noc such dark questions.

"What is life in the first place? If your mind works, then you're you. That's all that matters."

"I can't believe I'm being consoled by my son," I muttered, slightly depressed.

"It's not that weird."

While I sat in thought, Noc sat beside me. He seemed to have more questions.

"Will I be the only human?"

"If you want. You can choose your own path."

Noc sat in thought for a few seconds.

"How much danger are we in?"

"Angels have already appeared. It's only a matter of time until the royal armies come."

"What are the negatives?"

"Other than being a killer and underling to the god of the underworld?" I questioned, slightly annoyed with the thought of the cat.

"Angels are underlings of the goddess of the overworld. It's not bad to be under someone."

"I don't have a heartbeat. My appearance slightly changed, too. There are demons that aren't humanoid. You could turn into one. Also, I have to hide my appearance whenever humans are around."

"We're intelligent life. I doubt we'll get something that isn't humanoid."

"You said "we'll." Are you going?"

"Yes. How does this work?" Noc decided, looking intensely at me.

"I'll send you and your mother with this "friend" of mine. They'll take you to the god of the underworld. He isn't too intimidating, so don't worry."

"Is he a goat?"

"That's what I was expecting. He's actually a cat."

"I wonder what the goddess of the overworld looks like. If he's not a goat, then she's probably not a sheep."

"She isn't my concern. If he's a cat though, she's probably a dog. It's just a hunch," I mentioned as it seemed like a plausible idea.

"That would make sense."

We sat beside each other, both of us in contemplation.

"We're getting you a weapon today. Do you know how to use any?"

"No."

"How does a short sword sound? Your mother basically knows how to use a sword. She'll teach you."

"Okay."

Svi came out of the bathroom, a towel around herself. She sat down beside me, Noc on my other side.

"I'm sorry that I was in the bathroom for so long. I decided to take a shower myself. The clothes are drying. Do you want me to clean yours, Nocri?"

"No. I'm go-"

Before I could finish my sentence, she cut me off with a kiss. I was okay with this. Noc looked annoyed with us, though. It ended up lasting a solid minute, as we both had our arms around each other and didn't want to move. Noc started pulling on my shirt, so I ended it.

"What did the two of you talk about while I was cleaning?"

"He's going with you to the underworld."

My face, along with Svi's, was serious. Svi looked at me, then over to Noc.

"You sure, Noc?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't. I'm sure," Noc replied, unwavering. Svi sighed, accepting his choice.

"We should get your ears pierced today. Your ears can look like your father's."

Svi had a smile on her face, staring Noc at point blank.

"We were going to get him a weapon first, remember?" I added as weapons seemed more important.

"We can do that later. We have all day. Do you want your ears pierced?"

Noc thought about it for a few seconds. If he wanted to get his ears pierced, I wasn't going to stop him. I wanted him to.

"Does it hurt?"

"It's a slight pinch. Cri can do it for you."

"I'll do it, but why don't you wear earrings, Mom?" Noc asked, noticing her plain ears.

"I wore hoops, but, in a fight, they were pulled. They ripped through my ears. It's healed now, but I don't want earrings again."

Noc instantly looked nervous.

"I didn't mean to frighten you. You'll be fine, as long as you don't get hoops."

Noc's nerves dissipated, air leaving his lungs.

"I'll still get them. Are we going now?" Noc questioned.

"I'll get our clothes. Nocri, you still need to comb my hair, your hair, and Noc could do with it, too."

"Okay. I'll take care of that."